Interim Reckoning
Right after leaving the waiting room, the interview with me and the caster followed.
[Caster]: What an intense battle that was. Player Lee Chang-hyun, did you expect to win like this before the match?
I smiled and replied.
[Lee Chang-hyun]: Of course. Didn't I say so before?
It brought back memories of my comments from the media day. Sure enough, clips from back then started popping up in the chat.
No doubt, this match must've been a huge shock to LTD's director, Lee Hyung-geun. They pulled out all their hidden cards and went full throttle, only to lose to PER—the team that was dead last last season. He couldn't say it out loud, but his pride had to be wrecked. Probably got an earful from upstairs too.
The caster glanced at the PD at my words, flinched, and grimaced for a split second. Broadcasting my old quotes verbatim was prime material for getting side-eyed.
[Caster]: Ahaha... yeah, that happened. It was quite the hot topic back at media day. How about we watch the highlight scene picked by viewers and chat about it?
A holographic 3D replay appeared. It was the 1v1 between me and Ryu Jae-jun. Buildings crumbling under his Wave, me flipping through the air for suppressive fire, Lee Yeon-ju's Binding locking his feet, and my final shot.
[Caster]: This is the top highlight from viewers. What were you thinking during that play? Was the 1v1 planned from the start?
A flurry of thoughts raced through my mind in that instant. I could tell the truth or hype it up. But the most fun option was...
'Teasing the opponent.'
And since it was Ryu Jae-jun, someone I knew from before regression, the mischief kicked in. He was probably fuming right now... In this age group, his standout skills came with sky-high pride. Back then, losing a round made the vibe murderous. If I could recruit him to our team later, that'd be great. But his price tag would be steep, and LTD wouldn't let him go easily.
Anyway, he'd given me a headache this match, so teasing him felt right.
[Lee Chang-hyun]: Ah, I always account for 1v1 situations. Wasn't too fazed. That aside... the enemy team's ace, Ryu... Ryu Se-jun, right?
The caster whispered, Ryu Jae-jun...! Ryu Jae-jun, but I pretended not to hear and kept going.
[Lee Chang-hyun]: Yeah, Ryu Se-jun. He was pretty decent, I guess. Sucks he fell into my prepped trap... but hey, opponent's me.
I said with a sly grin. Imagining him grinding his teeth somewhere made it even more satisfying. Wait, this was my first impression post-regression. Too much? Nah, interviews are for this kinda fun.
Back in the team waiting room, everyone thrust out hands for high-fives like they'd been waiting.
Our team had been winning a lot lately, and the vibe was worlds better than last season.
"By the way, what was that sudden bind on the enemy at the end?"
Yoon Han-gyeol's eyes sparkled at me. It was a skill even the team hadn't seen me use.
"Not mine. Yeon-ju's."
"Oh..."
Not just Yoon Han-gyeol reacted. Yi Gil-han, the veterans, even aloof Han Ji-su—all stared in surprise.
"Come to think of it, you two were doing special training..."
Han Ji-su, ever money-obsessed and here to boost her value, seemed intrigued that Lee Yeon-ju's new skill awakened in training with me. I hadn't spotted anything for Han Ji-su yet—should I say? As I pondered, she sniffed something out and pounced.
"What is it? Some secret trick to awaken new skills?"
"Well... not something anyone can use..."
I mumbled, but Han Ji-su, fired up, switched targets to shy Lee Yeon-ju since I was still awkward to her.
"Yeon-ju. Spill. What'd you do with him? C'mon, we're teammates."
She didn't show it outside, but she was obsessed with value-ups. Nothing boosted worth like extra skills.
Quiet Lee Yeon-ju, still shy, just shook her head no.
Frustrated, Han Ji-su grabbed her and prodded until Lee Yeon-ju finally spoke...
"Chang-hyun... Chang-hyun..."
"..."
She stopped there, face and ears beet red. What? Say it or don't—why trail off like that?
I was baffled, but the team wasn't. Red face. Omitted backstory. Whatever they imagined, sharp glares turned my way.
"...No."
What the hell. Was I the only normal one here?
The morning after the match, an interview article hit that reconfirmed I was the only sane one on the team.
PER's win streak had been quiet—turns out Kim Do-jun couldn't stay low-key.
I'd never done this interview—must've been Kim Do-jun jumping at it. Fair enough; he'd contributed to the streak. But pre-regression, his antics made worry inevitable.
That Moras forge order was wild too...
A sword that blasts fluorescent light like a bulb when mana-infused. Never heard or seen it before.
Anyway, the interview...
[Reporter]: PER's been cruising lately. From your view, what's the reason, and who's the key player?
[Kim Do-jun]: Obvious—me, the new ace, and Lee Chang-hyun as the top duo. I'm up front, he's covering the rear. Perfect setup.
What? Minus LTD, we'd bombed them flat—Kim Do-jun "shining"? "Supporting"?
As expected, comments fact-checked hard.
Reactions weren't great. Poor guy dug his own grave.
More surprising: Netizens remembered Kim Do-jun despite few fights (minus this match). Then the interview explained.
[Reporter]: Oh right, you've been trending in communities. Know about it?
[Kim Do-jun]: Me?
Even in text, I could see his shocked face. As puzzled as me.
[Reporter]: Yeah. This viral clip from a community.
It was a mega-upvoted concept post. Even 3rd league stuff rarely blew up like this. What'd he do...?
The clip was a spectacle. Kim Do-jun vs. two enemy melee. He backpedaled when cornered; they chased. Then—
Flash!
His drawn sword erupted in blinding light impossible to stare at. Boldly, he turned away with enemies facing him. They staggered, eyes wide from the blast.
Then Kim Do-jun flashed a cringey chuuni smirk, glanced at likely camera spots, struck a pose, and casually double-killed the reeling foes.
What the...
Unbelievable. Attention whore ordered a flashbang sword for clout, and it wrecked like that. Accidental jackpot.
No way he planned it from the start.
[Kim Do-jun]: Ah, obviously. All prepped to catch 'em off-guard. Victory of strategy and prep, right?
[Reporter]: Y... yeah... haha...
Reactions were priceless.
He'd already earned a nickname I didn't have. EyeFlashVillain? Zero envy.